Messages

So far ,so good, excellent second edition. would query the value of the County report pages, as the local papers do that much better and more exhaustively, also there is little interest in reading about club news in Counties other than your own. Overall good value for a pound, looking forward to next edition

Invite the Gael to lecture on the evils of Drink, he will educate,stimulate and entertain, plus your club will surely reap the benefits next season,with a leaner fitter squad

It is the desire of the Co.Board, if not as yet a stated policy, to see the amalgamations of small rural clubs. The Dromaras,Ballelas and Aghadergs, need expect no help from officialdom within the Co. until they display a willingness to consider amalgamations

Passable first edition, though think it will struggle to find its identity in currently crowded media market. Columnist like Burns and Brolly are very good, but other content is bland. As the season progresses the analysis of teams will become boring and repetitive, and they are too late in the week for match reports.  More features on history, administration, club development, role of GAA and competitions would broaden its appeal base. Wish it luck and will continue to support,while remaining pessimistic about long term prospect of survival

An absolute disgrace, fixing this game for Downpatrick, which is probably the club ground least suited to cater for spectators at this time of year. High admission charge unnecessary and unjustifiable,and will do nothing to promote attendance at McKenna Cup games, especiallywith tg4 excellent live coverage. As for the game itself, little be could drawn from it, except perhaps as one poster previously remarked, Down are still incapable of playing direct football

Supersarsfields and turfsmoke have hit the nail on the head with their insightful comments, well said lads,after that any other comment would be superflous

No point buying a programme on Sunday lads

More good money thrown after bad, ill give it six months at most. Crap journalists produce crap newspapers and magazines

Who was the Healy that the park takes its name from, surely not Tim

1  All the rugby and soccer heads on this forum, would migrate to a rugby or soccer forum
2 As above
3As above

Im with you fivetimes, lets sell the Marshes and keep Newcastle

DJ was interviewed on BBC Hardtalk last night. Spoke very impressively about what the GAA and in particular his local club meant to him. Discussed the GPA at lenght, was emphatically opposed to any form of pay for play and hoped it would never happen. Believed that endorsement payments to high profile players such as himself, shoul be shared with lesser lights at club and county level where possible. His biggest gripe was the lack of insurance for players., Quote....Every person sitting in the stands or on the terracing is covered by insurance should a disaster occur. The only people not covered are the players on the field, if i get get a skelp or a broken arm,i am not covered...end quote. Must admit i did not understand that last part myself, surely every club player is insured and presumably the County are required to insure the personell involved with County teams.

Re. Kevin Bells election as Co. Chairman, a backward step, of incredible stupidity. Another year to be faced dereft of vision or innovation. The Gael would offer more. We have only ourselves to blame, when you accept mediocrity then that is what you get.

The story of the GAA is largely one of success, there is however one area in which it has monumentally failed. The stated aims of our founders, which are still contained within our constitution, include a committment to promote the ancient game of Rounders. I am not aware of any current Rounders competitions, i do  not know anyone who plays the game, apart from children inthe school-yard, have never heard this sport mentioned in any GAA forum, so why do we persist with this patently absurd pretention. What led the founding fathers to consider it a national sport worth preserving, was there just too much strong drink taken in Hayes Hotel.

Anyone like to add to this list. before you do, remember that Tyrone or Armagh winning the All Ireland are not important in the grand scheme of things
Important Dates of the GAA

    * 1884 - the GAA is founded on November 1 in Hayes' Hotel in Thurles, Tipperary
    * 1886 - the Artane Boys Band gives its first GAA public performance on June 14 of this year
    * 1887 - Tipperary and Limerick win the first All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals respectively
    * 1892 - goals are made equal to five points and teams are reduced fro 21 to 17-a-side.
    * 1896 - the value of a goal is reduced from 5 points to 3 points
    * 1912 - the junior championships are introduced at All-Ireland level
    * 1913 - the Jones' Rd. ground, Dublin, is purchased by the GAA and renamed Croke Memorial Park
    * 1920 - twelve spectators and a player, Michael Hogan, are killed in Croke Park during a Black & Tan raid
    * 1926 - the first radio broadcast of a GAA match took place when Galway played Kilkenny
    * 1931 - the name Cumann Luthchleas Gael is adopted
    * 1935 - the GAA enters its second half century: a crowd of 50,000 attend the All-Ireland Finals
    * 1938 - Micheál O Hehir commentates on fis first GAA match
    * 1939 - the Cork V. Kilkenny hurling match is remembered as the thunder & lightning final as the climax is played in a storm
    * 1947 - the Cavan V. Kerry All-Ireland Football Final is played in the Polo Grounds, New York.
    * 1954 - a record 84,856 attend Croke Park when Cork play Wexford in the hurling final
    * 1959 - 75th Anniversary of the GAA: the first cantilevered New Hogan Stand is opened at Croke Park
    * 1961 - a record 90,556 attend the Down V. Offaly All-Ireland Football Final at Croke Park
    * 1962 - the first GAA match is broadcast live on Telefís Éireann (RTÉ)
    * 1976 - Páirc Uí Chaoimh is opened in Cork City
    * 1984 - Centenary year of the GAA: the All-Ireland Hurling Final between Cork & Offaly is played in Thurles
    * 1993 - a grand plan to completely re-construct Croke Park was launched
    * 1996 - the new Cusack Stand was opened
    * 2002 - the redeveloped Cusack, Canal End and Hogan Stands were officially opened
    * 2003 - the Nally Stand was removed to make way for the refurbishment of Hill 16